Detecting Zika in Mosquitoes with Light

May-29-18 A faster, less expensive method of detecting Zika in mosquitoes could help stop the spread of the disease before it gets started.

The technology, from a team at the University in Queensland in collaboration with researchers from Brazil, relies on Near Infrared Spectroscopy to analyze how the light is absorbed and reflected by the insect’s head and thorax. In tests, the technology proved between 94 and 99 percent accurate while being 18 times faster than the current method at a fraction of the cost.

The team believes they could also use the NIRS method to identify diseases being carried by mosquitoes, including malaria and dengue fever.

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[ACSH.ORG]
[UQ.EDU.AU]

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